Interview preparation guide
Considering lodging options for interview travel: residency interview preparation guide
AAMC lists several ways to reduce lodging costs, including staying with friends or family and checking whether a program provides accommodation. Compare options for safety, location and your need to rest.
How to prepare
- 1
Ask what the program provides
AAMC says sometimes a program will provide accommodation. Check the invitation or ask the contact whether lodging help, residents' quarters or other arrangements are available. Do not assume any program offers them.
- 2
List the options AAMC mentions
AAMC suggests staying with friends or family, coordinating accommodations with other medical students, staying in residents' quarters, or turning to your alumni network in the area. Each has trade-offs for privacy, travel time and professional boundaries.
- 3
Check practicalities
Compare distance to the interview site, late arrivals, early starts and how you will get from the airport or hotel to the hospital. AAMC suggests researching the city and checking for shuttle services to reduce transport costs.
A practical exercise
Option: [..]. Cost: [..]. Distance to site: [..]. Arrival and departure times: [..]. Rest and privacy: [..]. Backup plan: [..].
This is an editorial exercise to adapt to your own interview, not a script or a program requirement.
What the source guidance supports
AAMC lists friends and family, shared accommodation, residents' quarters, program-provided lodging and alumni networks as ways to reduce lodging costs.
The exercises and checklists are editorial applications of the cited guidance, not required program procedures or predictions of interview outcomes. Costs and formats vary by program, so follow your actual invitation and school guidance.
Mistakes to avoid
- Choosing on cost alone.
- Arranging lodging before dates are confirmed.
- Assuming a program provides accommodation.
Check your preparation
- Have I asked the program?
- Is the location practical for an early start?
- Do I have a backup?
Questions for your practice review
- Does the program offer accommodation?
- Is there a shuttle?
- Which option gives me the best rest?
Common questions
Do programs provide lodging?
AAMC says sometimes a program will provide accommodation. Ask your program contact.
What cheaper options does AAMC mention?
Staying with friends or family, coordinating with other medical students, residents' quarters and alumni networks.
Should I choose the cheapest option?
Not automatically. Consider rest, travel time and your own comfort.
Related guides
Sources
This page is general editorial guidance based on the sources above. It is not a prediction of any program's questions or a statement of its current policies.